On Creative Writing, Ardashir Vakil and The Kite Runner

Published by simon on January 25, 2010

One of the things i decided to do a few months ago was to take steps to be a better creative writer, in the hopes of being published one day. So, recently I attended Ardashir Vakil’s beginner’s workshop organized by British Council and MPH.

I didn’t really know what to expect in the workshop, but it turned out to be very informative. There were 15 of us, the group was a diversified bunch – from young college students to retirees, from those with no inkling of what creative writing was to published writers.

The workshop was led by Ardashir Vakil, an author who is now lecturing in the UK. He was a very nice and funny guy (in a British sort of way). I learnt a lot from the short one day workshop. Some of it I already knew but probably never applied it intensely to creative writing. There were some very interesting people there, too bad I didn’t have time later to get to know them.

Some of the things that we learnt was how to use dialogue well, poetic justice (learnt about Cordelia in King Lear), yearning in the main character, the two epiphanies in a storyline, and a lot more. I also learnt new appreciation for the short story art form, and for Raymond Carver and Anton Chekhov.

After the workshop i went home to finish up the Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, gave a new insight on how famous authors use the same hooks and tools i learnt.

KFC Then and Now

Published by simon on January 21, 2010

Last Sunday morning we were at FGT and after service we had to rush back to CBC for something. We were thinking of where we could grab a quick lunch, and the only one that came to mind was the KFC at the Petronas station in USJ21.

I can’t remember the last time i stepped into a KFC. With my family being health conscious and fitness crazy these days, we rarely eat at fast food places (except Popeye’s heheh) ESPECIALLY KFC. I know what people usually say – so oily and unhealthy, chicken is so small!, so expensive.

Actually all three counts are true. When i was a little kid, the chicken pieces were definitely bigger (aren’t livestock growth hormones more commonplace now?). And an average meal at KFC would cost you RM3-4 more than at KFC.

But back then when i was growing up, our small little town had a small KFC and no other fast food places. It was always a treat to eat fried chicken there, and usually i only got to eat it once a year during my birthday (when i was much older in secondary school, we used to save up our pocket to go there on a weekend with friends). The menu was much simpler then. They only had the Original Recipe (it wasn’t called that as the Hot & Spicy only came much later) in servings like Snack Plate, Dinner Plate, Bucket and Barrel. No wedges, no zinger burgers, no cookies or whatever they have now. But I do remember them introducing the Colonel Burger.

But i can say this about KFC, the Original Recipe still tastes the same after all these years, size of chicken notwithstanding.

One Week of Shopping Malls

Published by simon on January 18, 2010

Its only 18 days into the new year, and already I’m lethargic.

I had some leave to clear last year, i was off for 10 days from Christmas eve right until New Year’s Day. The two weekends were taken up by Christmas and New Year’s respectively. But what did i go during the entire week off? I went shopping!

Day 1 of Shopping: 1 Utama

Well, you know, 1 Utama obviously the first stop. We missed most of the performances and carols, but the decor was great. Not as great as last year’s drummer boy theme tho.

My kid obviously had a good time, she hardly gets a chance to play here since its always under the hot sun.

Day 2 of Shopping: Mid Valley Megamall and Gardens

Mid Valley is as popular as ever. Try getting a parking spot after 11am and you’ll see what i mean. This time round the decor theme was castle (at the centre court) and village (north court). Overall it was a little disappointing, and the village looked really, um, it looked like they ran out of budget on this one.

Gardens was much better, as it always is every year. Not much of a theme going on here, but the clientele, who needs a theme.

At Mid Valley we had lunch at our new favourite fast food outlet, Popeye’s.

Day 3 of Shopping: Sunway Pyramid

After 1 Utama and Mid Valley, deciding on another mall was a little tricky. By right it should be Sunway Pyramid, but like most people i know, we didn’t really like the place. But we went anyway, since it was near and we wanted to buy a luggage bag.

I dunno, the decor was centred on this logo that looked strangely like Moulin Rouge and the The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Other than that nothing of note really, the old wing of Pyramid always struck me of being dark and gloomy.

I guess this is what they do to shoplifters here.

Since our last visit there’s this theme park thing going on at the lower ground, a little bit like a cheaper version of the one in Berjaya Times Square. RM3 to ride this funny looking ferris wheel. Strangely, they call it a ‘merry go round’. Wonder how long until the novelty of this will wear off.

I always maintained that there is never anything good to eat here other than the usual chain restaurants. But we ended up in the new branch of Fullhouse. Good decor, (poor service) and good food, and not too expensive.

Day 4 of Shopping: Pavilion KL

By day 4 my kids were groaning everytime we mentioned we were going ‘shopping’. What la, no stamina one kids nowadays.

Pavilion, of course, is a beautiful place, expensive parking notwithstanding (cost us RM11 btw).

We made it a point to go in the afternoon, so that we could catch the awesome Christmas lights. Apparently, the budget for the decor was RM1million, or so we were told.

Dinner was a little tricky. We were looking for this Korean BBQ place we heard about, couldn’t find it. We then tried Michaelangelo’s, since they had this promo for Citibank cardholders. But strangely, they didn’t allow us to sit in the non-smoking section even tho it was empty and it was only 5.30pm. Since the smoking section (partially outdoors) was hot and smoky, we decided to go elsewhere.

We ended in Chocolate. Great food, HORRIBLE service (they have YET to answer my complaint e-mail).

Day 5 of Shopping: The Curve, e-Curve, Ikano & Ikea

By day 5 we had to drag our kids into car.

Ikano had this Underwater Christmas theme (really? Who thought of this? The marketing executive with the new fish tank?) Other than a few fish tanks in the centre court, nothing else to see. Unless you count the soap bubbles that appear every hour or so. And they also keep repeating this annoying Christmas carol over the sound system. Reeeeally annoying.

The Curve – heck by 30th December they had already taken down all the Christmas decor. WHY?!!

So the only Christmas pic was at Marche. No idea why the cow is green.

e-Curve (formerly known as Cineleisure), donno what to say. all they had was two christmas trees. Oh, and these two dodgy looking avatar guys. I wonder how many kids took a peek under the loincloth.

Anyway five days of shopping was enough. We found our luggage bag in Ikano. On New Year’s Day, we had a pool party to celebrate Zoe’s birthday.

Good end to 2009.

Doctor Shrimp In The House

Published by simon on January 9, 2010

Did I tell you guys just before Christmas I got a doctor shrimp (or cleaner shrimp) for my saltwater tank?

My wife always wanted one, but I was worried it wouldn’t survive in my new tank. But anyway finally got it from Oceanic and so far its doing well. Can’t really get a good close up of it, but here’s the best one i got.

When i first introduced it to the tank, it was a little disoriented, moving round the entire tank and climbing the walls. After a few minutes it settled under this live rock and now mainly stays there whenever the light is on. But when the light goes off, it well trawl the entire tank floor looking for food. The good thing about doctor shrimps is that they’ll eat anything, including fish waste so it kinda help keeps the tank clean.

And boy, do they eat. They seem to eat non-stop.

Here’s a shot with the rest of the inhabitants of the house. At the moment I have 2 Fiji Blue Devil Damsels, a clownfish and a royal gramma (strawberry fish). Yep, I have all the aggressive territorial ones

My shrimp just shed its exoskeleton this morning. In the last 18 days or it has been here, it has shed twice. So i guess its doing ok. Here’s the shed exoskeleton stuck to the wave pump.